Envelope-opener



(No Model.)

I. W. HEYSINGER. ENVELOPE OPENER.

N0.504,s52. I E Patented Se-pt.5,'1893.'

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAO W. HEYSINGER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ENVELOPE-OPEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 504,362, dated September 5, 1893.

Application filed October 28, 1892. Serial No. 450,236. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISA-AC W. H EYSINGER, a citlzen of the United States, residing at Philadelphla, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Paper and Envelope Gutters, adapted for cutting by hand the leaves of books, opening envelopes, and the like, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being made to the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side view of a paper or envelope cutter embodying my invention, and havingseveral difierent sectional views placed alongside. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a similar cutter, except that the point H, of the first figure, a thumb rest, H, is shown in Fig. 2; and Fig. 3 is a modification of Figs. 1 or 2, in which the knife blade, A, lies with its flat surface, and cutting edge, in the plane of the curved handle, B, instead of at right angles thereto, as in the other figures.

The lettering in all the figures is uniform.-

The object of my invention is to produce a paper cutter, such as, may be conveniently used for cutting the leaves of books, opening envelopes, and like purposes,'in which the free projection of the long, slender, and pointed blade may be guarded and protected, so that liability to accident therefrom is prevented; and also in which the hand which guides the insertion of the blade is brought more nearly to the point of said blade whereby the point is more readily directed to the polntof insertion; and in which the lateral force of hand required in cutting is more directly applied, and in which implement the handle of the blade, by its form and position, serves to maintain its place uponthe hand of the operator while not in immediate use. I also in my invention shorten and render more compact, as well as much less dangerous and more efficient, the paper cutter in which the said invention is embodied.

Referring to the drawings, in Fig. 1 the blade, A, is a long preferably straight blade of steel, sharpened along its farther edge, as

shown in the small sectional views of Fig. 1, and also in Fig. 2, and pointed at its free end, Af. This blade may have a length of from six to eight inches, and a width of from onefourth to a half inch, and thick enough to remain straight under the lateral pressure to which it may be subjected in use. The handle, B, instead of projecting to the rear, as in ordinary knives, is'carried directly along the said blade, A, to the front, being separated therefrom by its arched form, leaving the open space X for the insertion of the fingers of the operator between the said blade A and handle B. In cross section I prefer to give the handle, B, where grasped by the hand, the sloped and concave form shown in Figs. 1, 2, and the middle sectional view of Fig. 1, so that a less elevation may be required for the arched handle, B, above the blade than would otherwise be necessary, and a more secure hand-hold be secured. In Fig. 3 however I use a flat transversely sectional'form for the part, B, but prefer that shown in the other figures. At the rear of the arched handle, B, the latter, G, extends downward to the line of the rear of the blade, A, and the handle is carried to the rear, as shown at J, and is provided with a longitudinal groove along its under surface, 0 0 Figs. 1 and 2, in which the rear end, A of the blade is seated, and securely held in place by the rivet, bolt, or screw, G, which extends through the hole, A of the blade, and the hole, 0, of the handle. If preferred, the blade, A, may be dovetailed or otherwise seated in, or attached to the handle, A, or may be cast or stamped solid and integral therewith, all in a single piece. I prefer the forms shown however, as being more readily made up, and more neat and effective. The

neck of the handle, 0, which extends downward from the hand-hold, B, to the blade, A, I do not concave, but leave fiat from side to side, to enable it to rest readily between the fingers, as will be explained. At its forward end the handle, B, is bent downward toward the blade, as shown at D, but does not come into contact with it, leaving a space, S, for the passage of the paper to be out. From D a longitudinal finger, E, extends forward, parallel with the blade, A, nearly to its point, serving as a guard therefor, and at its free extremity the finger, E, is bent upward, as shown in the figures, so as to afford clearance for the leaves of paper when entering the space, S, which extends along the blade, A, as

shown. This space, S, may be opened or closed as desired, and thus given a permanent set, by bending the handle B, at its neck, 0, and for this purpose I prefer making the handle of malleable iron, cast steel, brass, aluminium, orlike material. In using this paper cutter, the first. three fingers are habitually inserted through the space, X, beneath the handle, B, the little finger resting upon the A, having cutting edge, A, and point, A, the

upper surface, J, of the rearward projection of the handle, and the thumb resting against the downward slope, D, of the handle, at the point marked, H, in Fig. 1. The point of the blade, A, is inserted into the fold of the en'- velope, or leaves of a book, and thrust in, the tool being held on a suitable slope, the rear end of the handle and blade in advance of the point. The whole being then thrust forward and to'the right, the paper is cut as the blade advances. While not in immediate use, as, for instance, in opening a series of letters, or cutting the leaves of a book asone reads along, the implement rests in place in the hand, and is loosely, but securely held, the thumb and fingers being at liberty until the tool is again grasped and a new leaf out. In Fig. 2 I show a boss or projection, H, against which the ball of the thumb is adapted to rest, as affording a larger or firmer support at the point, H, of Fig. 1, but in use such projection may be dispensed with, and the thumb rest against the margin of the part D, as shown in Fig. 1. It will be observed that the tool may be readily suspended, when not in use, from a hook or a nail, the space, S, being sufficiently narrow to prevent its escape, or the tool may lie upon a desk or table, the form of the handleoffering a convenient means of seizing it when desired.

In Fig. 3 I show the knife blade, A A, in the plane of the handle, so that in opening envelopes, or cutting papers, the rear end of the handle is raised, and the cut thus made by the advance of the blade. But it is not so convenient in use, and cannot readily be used for opening envelopes when the latter lie upon a fiat surface, the hand being in the way, while the forms shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are admirably adapted to be used in this manner, and hence I prefer the forms shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

While I describe the above forms specifically I do not rigidly confine myself thereto, but modify my invention to conform to special requirements, without departing from the principles thereof, as herein shown, described, and claimed.

Having now described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a'paper or envelope cutter, the blade,

rear end of said blade secured to ahandle for operating the same, said handle, B, extended forward along said blade, A, and having finger space, X, between said blade and said handle, and open paper space, S, between the free forward end of said handle and said blade, said space adapted to permit the uncut paper to pass along said blade beneath said handle, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. In a paper or envelope cutter theelongated pointed rigid blade, A, and handle, B, secured to the rear end, A, of saidblade, and extended forward along. the same, having arch, O B D, with finger space, X, between said handle and said blade, and terminal finger, E, extended forward fromsaid arch and along said blade, having space, S, between -said finger, E, and said blade, A, said finger adapted to guard said blade at its free end from liability of inflicting injury, while admitting paper to be cut through said space, S, substantially as described.

3. As an article of manufacture, a paper or envelope cutter consisting of an elongated ,pointed blade, A, with rear supporting end, A and reversed handle, B, having the rear end of said handle secured to therear end ofsaid blade, and forming a rear support, J, arched hand piece, B, extended forward along said blade, and substantially parallel thereto, said arch formed by any inclined or vertical raise, O, raised center, B, and forward descending piece H, said handle terminating in front in an elongated finger, E, carried along said blade, A, to nearits point, A, having space, S, and adapted to guard the said blade and point, A A, substantially as described.

ISAAC W. HEYSINGER.

Witnesses:

JOHN R. NOLAN, WILL. R. JoHNs. 

